FAQ's

A: EVA has provided service to Orange County and eastern Los Angeles County for five decades.

We have expanded our practice to include southwestern San Bernardino County, including the communities of Chino, Chino Hills, as well as northwestern Riverside County, including Norco and Mira Loma.

Q: My Horse is Sick

A: The time to prepare for a sick horse is the day before it gets sick, but that rarely happens. So, now what can you do? The initial problem is usually quite obvious. Perhaps the horse is not eating, not putting weight on one foot, or is lying down and rolling. So, what should you do?

First: Assess the situation. How long has this been going on? What has happened?

Second: Asses the patient. Check the horse’s temperature, check for intestinal activity, ­­­­­­­­­­­­­and check the heart rate and respiratory rate. If you do not know how to get these “vital signs” on your horse, have your EVA veterinarian teach you how and practice before your horse gets sick. The more information you can determine on your own, the more likely your veterinarian can help you with a preliminary diagnosis over the phone and advise you on appropriate first aid.

Third: How well-prepared are you? Do you have a first aid kit? Is it stocked? Do you know how to use it? Often clients can save expensive emergency calls if they just have a well-stocked emergency first aid kit, the knowledge, and the training in how to use it. Ask your EVA vet for advice on how to assemble and use a first aid kit.

Q: Should I call an Equine dentist?

A:

The State of California does not recognize equine dentists, even if they went to school to get such a title. As such, they are participating in an illegal activity, have no licenses to practice dentistry, and may have no liability insurance to protect your loss if they make a mistake.
The concept of letting a non-licensed, non-insured person, who attended a series of classes out of state, promote himself as an “equine dentist” is a very “hot topic” in Sacramento at this time.

If such a person is doing work on your horse or horses not owned by you but on your property, be sure to inquire about his or her liability insurance. He probably has none. This means it will be your personal homeowner’s insurance, business insurance, or your assets that will be attached if complications occur as a result of the procedures performed with your knowledge.

There are two exceptions. First, a licensed veterinarian may do equine dentistry, and some veterinarians even limit their practice exclusively to equine dentistry. Second, a non-licensed person may do dental work on a horse if a veterinarian is in attendance and supervising the procedure at all times. If complications occur, the veterinarian is present to provide medical care, and the veterinarian has legal liability for the quality of work being done. This is the law in California as it stands now.

Since this issue is currently being actively discussed in Sacramento, it is only a matter of time before attorneys will start attacking the “deep pockets” of the insurance companies and property owners for the damages caused by the “illegal malpractice” committed by unlicensed equine dentists. In a litigious society like California, it is becoming risky to promote, condone, or even allow the illegal practice of equine dentistry without exposing yourself to potentially severe financial risk.

Q: Injection Sites

A: HANDLING SYRINGE & NEEDLE

Handle syringe from case touching the tip for needle attachment. Twist the needle onto the tip of the syringe. To remove the needle jacket, pull straight off; don’t twist off. Avoid touching or contaminating the needle at all at times.

FILLING THE SYRINGE

Make sure to shake penicillin bottles very well. To withdraw medication, inject the same amount of air into the bottle as you wish to take out. (To withdraw 20cc of penicillin, inject 20cc of air by pulling back the plunger to the 20cc mark and inject the bottle.) Then, without removing the needle from the bottle, aspirate the desired quantity.

INJECTIONS

Find the desired location for injection. Remove needle jacket; then detach the needle from the syringe by twisting off, without touching any part of the needle except where it attaches to the syringe. Handle here:

Inject the needle straight (not at an angle) into the horse, Attach the syringe by twisting onto the needle. Before injecting the medication into the horse, pull back on the syringe plunger to test for the needle being in a blood vessel. If blood comes back into the syringe, then find a new location and start over. You may use the same needle. If no blood comes back into the syringe, then inject ½ of the medication (for doses 20cc or more) in one location, and using the same needle, inject the other ½ in another location, Try not to inject more than 15cc in one spot. Rotate areas and check for any lumps. If lumps appear, let this area rest until they disappear. Contact the office if there are any questions or problems.

INJECTION SITES

1. NECK: Top 1/3 of neck (designated by triangle) in front of shoulder. Spine runs along lower portion of neck and ligament along the top or crest: stay away from these areas.

2. HIP: Insert needle straight into the deepest part of muscle.

3. THIGH: Insert needle (on either side of the tail) straight into the muscle, not from the side. This is sometimes a sensitive area, so be careful as the animal may kick.

Q: End Of Life Services

A:

Brent Gulley 760-949-7957

Armondo Martin 323-228-9424

Stiles 909-390-9828

Guardian Animal Aftercare 818-768-6465 www.GuardianAftercare.com

Only Cremations 949-852-1485 www.onlycremations.com

Roberta Warne 805-449-6885 Dignified Disposal (burial)

Q: OC Animal Control

A: 8am-5pm 714-935-6845
8pm -5am 714-935-7158

Q: Poison Control

A: 800-876-4766

Q: Haulers

A:

Jerry Daniels 949-422-6707 Equine Ambulatory Service

Q: Health Certificates & Coggins Tests

A:

A health certificate and Coggins test is required to transport a horse from state to state. The health certificate is valid for 30 days from date of the exam. Coggins tests are valid between six months to one year depending upon the state.

A health certificate requires an exam and a Coggins test requires a blood sample sent to the lab. We suggest a minimum of 1 week to have all results and paperwork completed.

Info necessary for Coggins test:
Name, address, and phone number for owner
Name, address, and phone number of where horse is stabled
Horses name, registered and barn names, if using both, breed, color, sex, age

Info necessary for Health Certificate:
Name, address, and phone number for owner
Name, address, and phone number of where horse is stabled
Physical address where your horse is going (No P.O. Boxes accepted as destination address)
If change in ownership, new owners name, address and phone number
If traveling to show, vacation, etc., physical address of destination

Horses name, registered and barn names, if using both, breed, color, sex, age

Q: What are Wolf Teeth?

A:

The canine teeth are present in male horses and erupt through the gums at about five years of age. Some female horses will have small vestigial canines present. The canines are used by the male horse for fighting and herd protection in the wild. These teeth have very long, deep roots and are not routinely extracted. When the teeth are floated in the adult male horse, the canines are often “reduced or ground down so they are not as long and sharp.

In contrast, the wolf teeth are the first premolars, and they can be present in both male and female horses. They erupt at one to two years of age and are located right in front of the upper first cheek teeth. Not all horses have wolf teeth, but when they do, they can usually be easily extracted because they have minimal roots. The wolf teeth are in a position where they can interfere with the bit (particularly a snaffle bit), and for that reason they are often extracted when the horse starts in the bridle.